Reflections of the region

Tom OrrRidge Lines

Published: Sunday, March 31, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, March 27, 2013 at 11:07 a.m.

I tear myself away from "March Madness" to check out Main Street. I am excited.

A picture in the Times-News (3/21/13) reveals professional artist Berry Bate overseeing work on the fountain she designed for 6th Avenue and Main Street. This is the corner of First Citizens Bank, where formerly the historic Barber Studio stood.

The fountain, when completed, will represent a combination of mountains, roots, stone — and water. The mountain range is being hammered out of copper. The stone is native granite.

Bate, a professional artist from Arden, describes her artwork this way: "There will be stone integrated near the base of the mountain supported by iron roots. Water will cascade down the stone, representing the many area streams, including the major river, The French Broad. "The city," Bate says, "is the point where past and present look out onto the future, glinting in the pool's reflection."

Just a short distance north of the new fountain is St. James Episcopal Church, partially built with stone taken from the historic Judson College when that building was razed. St. James is celebrating 150 years.

The oldest extant building in Hendersonville (1848), the Ripley building, still stands on the corner of 1st Avenue W. and Main Street. It, too, is built of stone — stone taken from a quarry that operated just blocks west of the stone building.

The mention of "stones" reminds me of the writings of Robert R. Morgan — of pioneer builders. A native son, Morgan has written poetry and fiction of great distinction for many years

I take these words from a Morgan novel: "No two rocks are exactly alike, but they have to be put together, supporting each other,/locked into place,/ and cut out of the mountainside,/and then joined to one another./That's the way I seen this work./Every one of that thousand rocks, some weighing a ton I guessed/had to be dressed/had to be measured."

Morgan continues: "It was like I was behind a mountain of hammer blows, of chips and dust,/and the only way out was through them.

It was my life's work to get through them./And when I got through them my life would be over."

A professor at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., Morgan continues to distinguish himself in several literary genre — poetry, biography, fiction and nonfiction.

The focus of his poetry and much of his fiction has been "on a square mile of land on the banks of Green River bought by (his) great-great grandfather Daniel Pace in 1838."

The author has written volumes of poetry including "Terroir," loosely interpreted as "a sense of place." In the field of fiction, Morgan is perhaps best known for his novel "Gap Creek," selected for Oprah's Book Club. The sequel of this hugely successful novel will be available this summer. The author will appear for a book-signing at the Henderson County Heritage Museum in August.

Morgan has distinguished himself in nonfiction with his comprehensive biography "Boone" and with "Lions of the West," an account of individuals who pioneered the opening of the West. He received the American Academy of Arts and Letter's highest award: "To … a storyteller with an eye for detail, impeccable ear for language, devotion to craft and passion for truth."

I am encouraged by what Berry Bate says of her work: "The city (Hendersonville) is the point where past and present look out onto the future." The new fountain will remind us of our rich heritage.

Both Bate and Morgan look into the future, each through a different art form.

"Sometime you get a vision of what's ahead for you./It's like foreseeing an endless journey of climbing over logs and crossing creeks/Looking for footholds in mud and swampland./And every little step and detail is real and has to be worked out./But it's what you are going to do, what you have been given to do. It will be your life to get through it." (Robert Morgan)

I wonder if Berry Bate has given a name to her creation. Future generations will be referencing her work.

April is the month when Pulitzer Prizes are announced. One of these years, we'll hear the name of Robert R. Morgan.

I have been watching the progress of Phase Three of Main Street improvements. I am pleased.

<p>I tear myself away from "March Madness" to check out Main Street. I am excited.</p><p>A picture in the Times-News (3/21/13) reveals professional artist Berry Bate overseeing work on the fountain she designed for 6th Avenue and Main Street. This is the corner of First Citizens Bank, where formerly the historic Barber Studio stood. </p><p>The fountain, when completed, will represent a combination of mountains, roots, stone — and water. The mountain range is being hammered out of copper. The stone is native granite.</p><p>Bate, a professional artist from Arden, describes her artwork this way: "There will be stone integrated near the base of the mountain supported by iron roots. Water will cascade down the stone, representing the many area streams, including the major river, The French Broad. "The city," Bate says, "is the point where past and present look out onto the future, glinting in the pool's reflection."</p><p>Just a short distance north of the new fountain is St. James Episcopal Church, partially built with stone taken from the historic Judson College when that building was razed. St. James is celebrating 150 years.</p><p>The oldest extant building in Hendersonville (1848), the Ripley building, still stands on the corner of 1st Avenue W. and Main Street. It, too, is built of stone — stone taken from a quarry that operated just blocks west of the stone building. </p><p>The mention of "stones" reminds me of the writings of Robert R. Morgan — of pioneer builders. A native son, Morgan has written poetry and fiction of great distinction for many years </p><p>I take these words from a Morgan novel: "No two rocks are exactly alike, but they have to be put together, supporting each other,/locked into place,/ and cut out of the mountainside,/and then joined to one another./That's the way I seen this work./Every one of that thousand rocks, some weighing a ton I guessed/had to be dressed/had to be measured." </p><p>Morgan continues: "It was like I was behind a mountain of hammer blows, of chips and dust,/and the only way out was through them.</p><p>It was my life's work to get through them./And when I got through them my life would be over."</p><p>A professor at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., Morgan continues to distinguish himself in several literary genre — poetry, biography, fiction and nonfiction. </p><p>The focus of his poetry and much of his fiction has been "on a square mile of land on the banks of Green River bought by (his) great-great grandfather Daniel Pace in 1838."</p><p>The author has written volumes of poetry including "Terroir," loosely interpreted as "a sense of place." In the field of fiction, Morgan is perhaps best known for his novel "Gap Creek," selected for Oprah's Book Club. The sequel of this hugely successful novel will be available this summer. The author will appear for a book-signing at the Henderson County Heritage Museum in August. </p><p>Morgan has distinguished himself in nonfiction with his comprehensive biography "Boone" and with "Lions of the West," an account of individuals who pioneered the opening of the West. He received the American Academy of Arts and Letter's highest award: "To … a storyteller with an eye for detail, impeccable ear for language, devotion to craft and passion for truth."</p><p>I am encouraged by what Berry Bate says of her work: "The city (Hendersonville) is the point where past and present look out onto the future." The new fountain will remind us of our rich heritage. </p><p>Both Bate and Morgan look into the future, each through a different art form. </p><p>"Sometime you get a vision of what's ahead for you./It's like foreseeing an endless journey of climbing over logs and crossing creeks/Looking for footholds in mud and swampland./And every little step and detail is real and has to be worked out./But it's what you are going to do, what you have been given to do. It will be your life to get through it." (Robert Morgan)</p><p>I wonder if Berry Bate has given a name to her creation. Future generations will be referencing her work.</p><p>April is the month when Pulitzer Prizes are announced. One of these years, we'll hear the name of Robert R. Morgan. </p><p>I have been watching the progress of Phase Three of Main Street improvements. I am pleased.</p>